Oh Maninga

Chorus

Oh maninga, oh maninga

Oh manager, oh manager

Cane ah cut an price nah pay at all

I cut sugarcane and it does not pay at all

Rice an flour dare ah shop, why you mean not da?

Rice and flour are there in the shop — why do you mean not that?

People people come lewwe go

People, people, come let us go

Pick up yuh saucepan an cutlass an hoe

Pick up your saucepan, cutlass, and hoe

Me wuk hard in de backdam til me hand get ah corn

I work hard in the backdam (estate) until my hand gets a callus (corn)

When me get ah money he gone in de pan

When I get some money it goes away in the pan

Ker away me na raja me nah go stan no more

Carry me away, king — I cannot stand it anymore

De manjha left de estate he went an go away

The manager left the estate and went away

When me fadda hear dat he cry every day

When my father heard that he cried every day

De manjha gan away de polis take over

The manager went away and the police took over

While he was away me go hide all over

While he was away I went and hid all over

Ker away me na raja me nah go stan no more

Carry me away, king — I cannot stand it anymore